Outdoor Burn Ban in Effect Until Sept. 30
The last day for outdoor burning was April 30.
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Gwinnett County residents are reminded that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's annual ban on outdoor burning is now in effect.
The annual ban, which runs from May 1 through Sept. 30, is put into effect due to health concerns associated with pollutants created by outdoor burning — the smoke can negatively impact air quality during hot summer months by contributing to high ozone levels.
"These restrictions are required by the state Environmental Protection Division so that fewer chemicals and particle pollutants are released into the air," Georgia Forestry Commission Chief of Forest Protection Frank Sorrells said in a news release. "The risk of wildfire is also high at this time, and the Georgia Forestry Commission will be closely monitoring fire activity to keep Georgians and their property safe."
The open burn ban prohibits residents and businesses from burning yard debris or land clearing debris.
Mitch
10:53 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Outside this complete burn ban from May to September, does anyone know why they do not allow burning on Sundays even if the weather conditions are good for it? Is this like a sunday alcohol sales thing?
Kristi Reed
11:01 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Good question. It probably is something like a Sunday sales thing. I'll see if I can get an answer for that.
North Georgia Weather
11:01 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
yes
Mitch
11:05 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Sunday is always my best day of the week for burning, so It's always frustrating that I "legally" can't. Would love to see that go bye bye just like the alcohol sales.
Kristi Reed
11:37 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Hi Mitch - Here is the answer I received from Lt. Eric Eberly of Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services: "The thought is to provide a day of no aggravation for everyone in Gwinnett County. Should you be outside enjoying the day with your family and your neighbor next door is burning leaves it would be cumbersome. So it has been one day of the week that there is no burning at all, that everyone can anticipate 'relief from residual smoke' in and around control burning."
Mitch
12:28 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
While I understand the intent I still find it frustrating and with some flaws. Take this past weekend, like most people I work during the week and am pretty limited to serious burning only on the weekends. Saturday was a no burn day because it was less than 24 hours since a weather front moved through. Sunday I think would have been a burn day if it wasn't for the automatic Sunday ban. Monday (Yesterday) was a burn day, the last possible day until October so I decided to take the afternoon off of work so I could finish off my last portion of leaves/brush. If I could have burned on Sunday I wouldn't have had to take time off work. Plus, there was already consecutive weeks of no burn days before yesterday anyway because of other weather conditions, so my neighbors already had weeks of no smoke aggravation. Why ban a perfect burn day if you just had days or even weeks of no burning and smoke?
Oh well, that’s my venting for the day, I’ll go crawl into my fire pit and be back in October to complain some more.
North Georgia Weather
11:49 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Yea... but you can still have a fire, just not "yard" trash! ;-) But you still need some kindling to start the fire... :-)
Mitch
12:35 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
I've also heard as long as you have some marshmellows or food around you are good too.
Unfortunately, the amount of leaves I still had to burn created a pretty big plume of smoke. If the fire marshall decided to stop by I don't think I could have defended myself with a marshmellow. :)
Kristi Reed
12:31 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
My neighborhood actually prohibits burning. Period. I wish I could burn some brush and leaves. Maybe I should follow Steve's suggestion and call it a barbecue or a marshmallow roast ;)
Kristi Reed
12:41 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
And Mitch's suggestion. Mitch, I guess our comments passed in cyberspace.
M.K. Osborne
8:04 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Leaves are great compost material , Wheres Charles at ? This is Green 101 , hook this guy up with someone to take them away for him and prevent air pollution . This is where the rubber meets the road in my book , simple and basic common sense environmental solutions , doesnt make money , doesnt cost money , but solves the problem . I see my soap box coming near !
Kristi Reed
8:08 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Hi Kevin - What about twigs and branches and bush prunings? They don't compost well. Do you have an environmentally friendly idea for dealing with those? I don't have a chipper/shredder.
M.K. Osborne
9:04 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Twigs and branches in a HOA setting can be a challenge , what i would do is call on a friend that lives in a area that can have campfires or better yet compost it naturally in the woods over a longer period of time . I would like to see local landscape/nurseries offer there customers the service of chipping up these items on a small scale since they have the means . Bring one for the chipper is nice for the trees but i think your situation needs a solution or partnership since it garners a true everyday challenge in unincorporated Gwinnett .
M.K. Osborne
9:07 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
oh , try charles at greening forward .. the website says they will pick up .
M.K. Osborne
9:08 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
How much are we talking about , bags ,truckload .
Kristi Reed
9:11 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Probably truckload. I have some serious pruning I need to do.
M.K. Osborne
9:31 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
You have entered the Money zone , roll off container to inert landfill , or rent chipper shredder , or a hail mary to Charles or the local plant nursery/landscape . Keep me posted on any progress .Ask this same question to Gwinnett C & B and let us know , then ask your County extension agent .... sounds like a great topic is a brewing .